Editing Electricity generation (section)

== Environmental concerns ==
{{main||Environmental impact of electricity generation}}
{{see also|Global warming|Coal phase out}}
Variations between countries generating electrical power affect concerns about the environment. In France only 10% of electricity is generated from [[fossil fuels]], the US is higher at 70% and China is at 80%.<ref name="Statistics and Balances">{{cite web |website=IEA |url=http://www.iea.org/stats/index.asp |title=Statistics and Balances |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110515014755/http://www.iea.org/stats/index.asp |archive-date=2011-05-15 |access-date=2011-07-12 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The cleanliness of electricity depends on its source. [[Methane leaks]] (from natural gas to fuel gas-fired power plants)<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Patrick Pester |date=2022-02-10 |title=Massive methane leaks mapped from space |url=https://www.livescience.com/massive-methane-plumes-mapped-from-space |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=Live Science |language=en |archive-date=2022-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629191620/https://www.livescience.com/massive-methane-plumes-mapped-from-space |url-status=live}}</ref> and [[carbon dioxide emissions]] from fossil fuel-based electricity generation account for a significant portion of world [[greenhouse gas emissions]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003732690_carbon03.html |work=The Seattle Times |title=Carbon-emissions culprit? Coal |first=Seth |last=Borenstein |date=2007-06-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424122332/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003732690_carbon03.html |archive-date=2011-04-24}}</ref> In the United States, fossil fuel combustion for electric power generation is responsible for 65% of all emissions of [[sulfur dioxide]], the main component of acid rain.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sulfur Dioxide|date=2016-11-16 |publisher=US Environmental Protection Agency|url=http://www.epa.gov/air/sulfurdioxide/|access-date=2010-04-23 |archive-date=2015-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814185654/http://www.epa.gov/air/sulfurdioxide/|url-status=live}}</ref> Electricity generation is the fourth highest combined source of [[NOx|NO<sub>x</sub>]], [[carbon monoxide]], and [[Atmospheric particulate matter|particulate matter]] in the US.<ref>{{cite web|title=AirData|publisher=US Environmental Protection Agency|url=http://www.epa.gov/cgi-bin/broker?_service=airdata&_program=progs.webprogs.emcatbar.scl&_debug=2&geotype=us&geocode=USA&geoname=United+States&epol=CO+NOX+VOC+SO2+PM25+PM10&years=2002&mapsize=zsc&reqtype=viewmap|access-date=2010-04-21|archive-date=2015-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924043929/http://www.epa.gov/cgi-bin/broker?_service=airdata&_program=progs.webprogs.emcatbar.scl&_debug=2&geotype=us&geocode=USA&geoname=United+States&epol=CO+NOX+VOC+SO2+PM25+PM10&years=2002&mapsize=zsc&reqtype=viewmap|url-status=dead}}</ref>

According to the [[International Energy Agency]] (IEA), low-carbon electricity generation needs to account for 85% of global electrical output by 2040 in order to ward off the worst effects of climate change.<ref name="CEN">{{cite news| last=Johnson| first=Jeff| title=Can nuclear power help save us from climate change? |work=Chemical & Engineering News |date=September 23, 2019| url=https://cen.acs.org/energy/nuclear-power/nuclear-power-help-save-us/97/i37 |access-date=November 23, 2021 |archive-date=November 22, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122005421/https://cen.acs.org/energy/nuclear-power/nuclear-power-help-save-us/97/i37| url-status=live}}</ref> Like other organizations including the [[Energy Impact Center]] (EIC)<ref>{{cite news| last=Takahashi| first=Dean| title=Last Energy raises $3 million to fight climate change with nuclear energy| work=VentureBeat| date=February 25, 2020| url=https://venturebeat.com/2020/02/25/last-energy-raises-3-million-to-fight-climate-change-with-nuclear-energy/ |access-date=November 23, 2021 |archive-date=January 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112122823/https://venturebeat.com/2020/02/25/last-energy-raises-3-million-to-fight-climate-change-with-nuclear-energy/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[United Nations Economic Commission for Europe]] (UNECE),<ref name="UNECE">{{cite news |title=Global climate objectives fall short without nuclear power in the mix: UNECE |publisher=United Nations Economic Commission for Europe| date =August 11, 2021| url =https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/08/1097572 |access-date=November 23, 2021 |archive-date=November 22, 2021| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20211122181724/https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/08/1097572 |url-status=live}}</ref> the IEA has called for the expansion of nuclear and renewable energy to meet that objective.<ref>{{cite news| last=Chestney| first=Nina| title=End new oil, gas and coal funding to reach net zero, says IEA |publisher=Reuters |date=May 18, 2021| url=https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/radical-change-needed-reach-net-zero-emissions-iea-2021-05-18/ |access-date=November 23, 2021| archive-date=November 17, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117161210/https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/radical-change-needed-reach-net-zero-emissions-iea-2021-05-18/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Some, like EIC founder Bret Kugelmass, believe that nuclear power is the primary method for [[Low-carbon economy|decarbonizing]] electricity generation because it can also power [[direct air capture]] that removes existing carbon emissions from the atmosphere.<ref>{{cite news| last=Kugelmass| first=Bret| title=Want to stop climate change? Embrace the nuclear option.| newspaper=USA Today| date=January 22, 2020| url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/01/22/climate-change-solution-nuclear-energy-our-best-hope-column/2821183001/| access-date=November 23, 2021| archive-date=November 28, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128063508/https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/01/22/climate-change-solution-nuclear-energy-our-best-hope-column/2821183001/| url-status=live}}</ref> Nuclear power plants can also create [[district heating]] and [[desalination]] projects, limiting carbon emissions and the need for expanded electrical output.<ref>{{cite news| last=Patel| first=Sonal| title=How an AP1000 Plant Is Changing the Nuclear Power Paradigm Through District Heating, Desalination| work=Power Magazine |date=November 1, 2021| url=https://www.powermag.com/how-an-ap1000-plant-is-changing-the-nuclear-power-paradigm-through-district-heating-desalination/ |access-date=November 23, 2021| archive-date=June 3, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603054050/https://www.powermag.com/how-an-ap1000-plant-is-changing-the-nuclear-power-paradigm-through-district-heating-desalination/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

A fundamental issue regarding centralised generation and the current electrical generation methods in use today is the significant negative environmental effects that many of the generation processes have. Processes such as coal and gas not only release carbon dioxide as they combust, but their extraction from the ground also impacts the environment. Open pit coal mines use large areas of land to extract coal and limit the potential for productive land use after the excavation. Natural gas extraction releases large amounts of methane into the atmosphere when extracted from the ground greatly increase global greenhouse gases. Although nuclear power plants do not release carbon dioxide through electricity generation, there are risks associated with nuclear waste and safety concerns associated with the use of nuclear sources. 

Per unit of electricity generated coal and gas-fired power [[Life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of energy sources|life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions]] are almost always at least ten times that of other generation methods.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Scarlat |first1=Nicolae |last2=Prussi |first2=Matteo |last3=Padella |first3=Monica |date=2022-01-01 |title=Quantification of the carbon intensity of electricity produced and used in Europe |s2cid-access=free |journal=Applied Energy |language=en |volume=305 |pages=117901 |doi=10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.117901 |s2cid=244177261 |issn=0306-2619 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2022ApEn..30517901S}}</ref>